That Is One Beautiful Building

On December 24, we drove up from New Orleans to Baton Rouge in anticipation of driving back down to see the bonfires on the levee. Surprisingly, the art deco capitol building — clad in Alabama limestone — was open that day:

It’s hard to separate this building with thoughts of Huey P. Long, the man who sought to have it built (and on such a grand scale — the largest in the US — obviously a testament), saw it through (with an apartment for him included), and tragically murdered there.

Here, in the corridor where he was killed is this display, plaque, and the bullet damage is still in the walls:

For a break, there’s an observation deck on the 27th floor:

…and if you’re wondering what the good people who work here for the people of Louisiana, have for lunch: